USS Winnebago medical log
Collection
Identifier: W-0108
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the medical log of the USS Winnebago, a Union river monitor stationed at Mobile Bay from 1864 to 1865. Most of the entries, written by the ship's surgeon Joseph Bell, describe the illnesses and medical treatment of sailors. A few entries describe living conditions on the ship and events that affected the naval fleet. A notable series of entries on December 8, 1864, describe the explosion of the USS Narcissus, a Union steamer that struck a torpedo. The book contains entries written between October 1864 and February 1865. Newspaper clippings pasted into the log obscure a few entries, but the majority are legible.
Dates
- 1864 - 1865
Creator
- Bell, Joseph (Author, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
None
Biographical / Historical
The Union river monitor USS Winnebago was constructed at the Union Iron Works located in St. Louis, Missouri. Construction was completed and the ship was launched on July 4, 1863. In April 1864, the ship was assigned to the Mississippi River Squadron, which protected Union ships from attacks by Confederate raiders. In July, the monitor was reassigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron led by Rear Admiral David Farragut. On August 5, 1864, the monitor fought in the Battle of Mobile Bay, firing on Fort Morgan and the Confederate ironclad CSS Tennessee. The Winnebago remained stationed in Mobile Bay until the end of the war. The ship was decommissioned and sold in 1874.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
The medical log of the USS Winnebago, a Union river monitor stationed in Mobile Bay from 1864 to 1865.
Physical Location
The A. S. Williams III Americana Collection, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, The University of Alabama
Provenance
Gift of A. S. Williams III, 2010
General
Title on Spine: Medical Records of Surgeon Joseph Bell, USS Winnebago Mobile Bay, 1864-1865
Processed by
Haley Aaron, 2013
Creator
- Bell, Joseph (Author, Person)
- Williams, A. S., III (Collector, Person)
Source
- Williams, A. S., III (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the USS Winnebago medical log
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- January 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository